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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 November 2024
The fourth command of Alexander VI was contained in the Brief Reformationi et augmento, dated November 7th, 1496, but unlike the previous commands it was not imposed upon Savonarola only, it was given to the Priors and communities of sixteen Dominican houses, one of which was San Marco in Florence. No superior or religious was mentioned by name in the Brief. By this Brief a new Congregation or group of Dominican houses was established, to be known as the Tuscan-Roman Congregation of the Order of Preachers, and a Vicar General of this Congregation was to be appointed by Cardinal Caraffa after consultation with the Master General of the Order. He was to hold office for two years, and at the end of this time an election was to be held as prescribed by the Constitution of the Order. On November 17th, 1496, Father Jacopo da Sicilia was appointed Vicar-General of the newly established Tuscan-Roman Congregation and Savonarola acknowledged him as his Superior. We draw attention to this statement, for we shall see that some writers deny it.
The Brief of November pleased no one. The Tuscan houses did not wish to be separated from the Congregation of Lombardy, and the opposition to such separation was so strong that several superiors were deposed from office and threatened with imprisonment.
1 Gherardi, op. cit., pp. 145-146; Bayonne, Etude, p. 96, and note.
2 Cf. Bayonne, Etude, pp. 92-93, note; O’Neil, op. cit., p. 60.
3 Villari, op. cit., Vol. I, Append., Doc. xxxiii, pp. cxliv-vii.
4 Cf. Nardi, Istorie Fiorentine, p. IOZ, who tells us that Camerino, the bearer of the Brief of Excommunication against Savonarola and molto inimico del frate, was afraid to come to Florence with it, lest he should be torn in pieces.
5 Tablet, ut supra (our italics).
6 Gherardi, op. cit., pp. 154-156.
7 Cf. Lottini , Fu Veramente Excommunicato il Savonarola? p. 12 (our italics), cf. Irish Rosary, Vol. II, p. 416.
8 Tablet, ut supra.
9 Nuovi Documenti, p. 144, sqq., Edizione seconda, 1887.
10 Op.cit., p. 141.
11 Tablet, ut sup.
12 Lucas, op. cit., p. 236 (italics ours). We give the translation of Father Lucas and make the following remarks: first, the phrase in the original Latin, ‘ ut obediret . . . . in uniendo ‘ is rendered by Father Lucas as to unite his Convent, and he finds fault with Father O’Neil for translating it by the words ‘ to unite.’ In his opinion the translation ‘ to obey in the matter of the union ‘ would be nearer the mark. We have Father O’Neil’s volume before us, and the translation he gives is ‘ to obey in uniting,’ which, we suggest, is the correct equivalent. Second, the Pope says the new Congregation was ‘ erected by Us,’ which is precisely our contention. The consent or assent of any others was not required to erect the Congregation.
13 Omnino praeter mentem suam. Bracci to the Ten, June 27th, 1497. Gerardi, op. cit., p. 172.
14 Gherardi, op. cit., p. 166. It is rather remarkable that the Brief of Excommunication was published only in certain Churches of Florence, ‘ because,’ says Nardi, ‘ others did not wish to receive it as it was not brought by the Apostolic Secretary as it should have been, but its publication was seen to and undertaken by adversaries for the gratification of their own personal spite ‘ (tal pubblicazione era stata procacciata e fatta fare da cittadini inimica per la loro passione.’ Istorie Fiorentine Lib. 11, pp. 102-103, Firenze 1888.
15 ‘The Pontiff said if Fra Girolamo would submit to remain quiet and not preach, it would not be long before he would completely absolve him from every censure which he might have incurred.’ Bonsi to the Ten, February 27th, 1498.
16 Il vero Savonarola, p. 533.
17 ‘Per questi e altri documenti fattini conoscere e forza conchiudere che la disubbedienza no ci fu.’ Vita di San Filippo Neri. IIIa, Edizione, Vol. I, p. 308.
18 Tablet, ut Supra.
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